DAY DEVOTED TO VETERANS.Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior Columnist LANCASTER - A record 79 veterans got a hand up and a ``Welcome Home'' during the second Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Veterans Stand Down of 2006. By the time the day was over, the vets - and, in some cases, their families - had been fed three meals and been given new clothing, job counseling, physical and dental care, legal advice and music to soothe their souls. There was also camaraderie, games and dancing. ``I think we're making a difference with each of these events,'' said Steve Baker, executive director of the Grace Resource Center food bank in Lancaster and Stand Down co- chairman. Since the stand downs started in 2003 as a way to get homeless veterans reintegrated into society, the veterans who attend seem more at ease and more comfortable with the volunteers, whom they have come to know as friends, organizers said. ``They know we're here to help them now. They know they can trust us,'' said George Palermo, director of the Vietnam veterans organization Point Man International of Antelope Valley and Stand Down committee secretary. ``Stand down'' is the military term for when battle-weary troops get to go to a safe place, away from the front lines, to rest and recuperate re·cu·per·ate v. To return to health or strength; recover. . Originally designed for homeless veterans, the Stand Downs are now open to all veterans and their families. Held April 22 at Grace Chapel, this Stand Down was staffed with volunteers, many of them veterans themselves who have had better luck in making their way in society. Quartz Hill Foursquare Church dental ministry volunteers Dr. Neil Green, Jennifer Edie, Luisa Jenkins, Elaine Cologne and Maria Hernandez checked the vets' teeth. Physician's assistant physician's assistant: see physician assistant. Robert A. Singleton and eligibility worker Annie Fennell from the West Los Angeles
HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome screening was done by Catalyst Foundation representatives Darrell Lind and Ayme Martinez. Dave Stone and Mike Coupland were there from the state Employment Development Department to assist the vets in finding jobs. Veterans Administration representative Dorien Frank offered assistance in finding housing. The Baby Boomers band provided nostalgic music that had some of the vets and volunteers dancing. ``It's good to be able to go someplace some·place adv. & n. Somewhere: "I didn't care where I was from so long as it was someplace else" Garrison Keillor. See Usage Note at everyplace. where there are other lonely vets need to be with other people. And that music makes me want to dance. But I couldn't do it right now,'' said World War II veteran Dawson Stephens, recently widowed after 60 years of marriage. Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2. Monday: Turkey sub, potato salad, peas and carrots, marinated beets, Jell-O w/fruit.Tuesday: Braised braise tr.v. braised, brais·ing, brais·es To cook (meat or vegetables) by browning in fat, then simmering in a small quantity of liquid in a covered container. beef and noodles noo·dle 1 n. A narrow, ribbonlike strip of dried dough, usually made of flour, eggs, and water. [German Nudel. , zucchini squash, tossed salad, mandarin oranges. Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn nibblets, three-bean salad, tomato juice, lemon pudding. Thursday: Orange chicken, rice pilaf, Normandy vegetables, cottage cheese cottage cheese a soft, uncured cheese made from soured skim milk; most of the lactose is removed with the whey. Used in low-residue diets for dogs and cats. , cookies. Friday: Chicken enchilada, refried beans, corn nibblets, fiesta coleslaw cole·slaw also cole slaw n. A salad of finely shredded raw cabbage and sometimes shredded carrots, dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette. , fruit cocktail. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Dave Stone, left, and Mike Coupland of the state Employment Development Department chat as they wait for veterans at the Antelope Valley Veterans Stand Down of 2006. (2 -- color) Veteran George Alston has a consultation with physician's assistant Robert Singleton and eligibility worker Annie Fennell. (3 -- color) Jennifer Edie assists dentist Neil Green to extract a tooth from veteran Ricky Gilmore at the Antelope Valley Veterans Stand Down of 2006 in Lancaster. Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News |
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